Despite recent crime, city says Gas Works Park is safe
Jul 31, 2014, 5:23 AM | Updated: 5:39 am
Seattle police officers shot a bottle-wielding man Wednesday morning and crews are still cleaning up $8,000 worth of vandalism at Gas Works Park, but the city says the iconic park is safe.
“This is a safe park in general, so we don’t want people to fear coming down here,” Assistant police chief Nick Metz said hours after an officer-involved shooting at the park left one man dead. Police said the man charged at officers with a broken bottle and shots were fired when he didn’t succumb to Tasers.
That comes on the heels of a large party at the park late Monday night where police say 40 to 50 young people are believed to be responsible for damaging walls, machinery and picnic benches.
So is Gas Works safe?
“We don’t have a lot of, at least reported to the Seattle Parks Department, incidents of crime or violence at the park,” said Joelle Hammerstad, spokesperson for the Seattle Parks Department. “Mostly the kind of problems we have are the kind that we had Monday night which is partying, drinking, and graffiti.”
There have been no recent reports of homeless activity in the park at night, according to Hammerstad. During the day, homeless people are also welcome to use Seattle’s parks.
She said they contracted out a security officer to patrol the park at night for a week following Monday night’s vandalism.
“We believe Gas Works is safe and we’re increasing our patrols there to ensure that,” said Seattle Police Sergeant Sean Whitcomb.
KIRO Radio’s Tom Tangney, a Seattle native and lover of Gas Works, said he’s not concerned about his safety at the park.
“If I was out and about at that time near Gas Works Park, I might stroll through it too, and I wouldn’t think it would be dangerous,” Tangney said.
Unfortunately for Tangney, the park closes at 10 p.m. in the summer. Hammerstad said they generally don’t have a problem with people hanging out at Gas Works after closing time.
